Live Review: CMJ's Choose Your Own Ending

It was another "slow morning" today...but the last in the CMJ 2007 series. The final night of this year's new music festival concluded in the wee hours with special appearances, parties, and "secret" shows on both sides of the East River. Xtina and I were faced with the difficult choice between dancing through an unannounced Justice set at Studio B at 3am, or bopping with our Almost Gold friends to the beat of Peter and Bjorn (plus Doug from Dirty on Purpose) at Galapagos. Here is evidence of the ending we chose to this year's CMJ story:

The tiny venue of Galapagos was packed thick with bodies when we arrived, at the tail end of the Black Kids set. We waited patiently in the company of Isaac (Almost Gold), George (MuseBox), Jackie (SPIN Online), and other media folks who were barely hanging on after this week of concert insanity. Peter, Bjorn and Doug kicked off their set with a velocity that blew the tired out of our heads immediately. Peter Moren's feet were an unstoppable force. They were in hop/tap/dance hyper-drive for the duration of the show.

Towards the end, Peter got so excited that he leapt into the crowd, sacrificing the functionality of his borrowed guitar for the next song (that was Isaac's guitar).

There were a few special guests too (including Matt from Foreign Born):


The rest of CMJ Day 5 will have to be covered piece-by-piece, but I felt that this cool and cheery finale was worth reporting to you all first.

[Photos by Mina K]

In and Out: Calvin Harris, Baby's First

“It’s all a bit weird,” remarks Calvin Harris regarding his experience so far in America. No further elaboration follows, as his face takes in the complete stranger before him called "6th Avenue." The tall 23-year-old small town Scottish boy is visibly overwhelmed by the newness of his current incarnation as the latest up-and-coming electro-rock darling. My idiosyncratic mind can’t help but picture a Christmas tree with ornaments that read:

Baby’s First Full-Length Album
Baby’s First Show In The States
Baby’s First Strenuous Promo Tour
Baby’s First Night Karaoke-ing With A Heap of Crazy Americans


This year Xtina and I spent the tainted holiday of September 11th at “Calvin-oke,” a karaoke party welcoming Calvin to New York City. About 25 music industry folks - nearly 20 bearing XX chromosomes - came together and belted out their favorite cheesy tunes in a private room at IBOP, a karaoke den near Korea-town. Calvin's label Almost Gold provided the scotch beverages, which I graciously accepted.

Calvin is currently living a dense schedule of interviews and promo appearances…it’s gotten to the point where the topic of sleep has crept into his Q&A sessions. From the pre-karaoke mixer at Almost Gold label headquarters through the first few songs sung at IBOP, he appears relatively shy and awkward amidst the other hyper-social party guests. But then we all get a carrot - “Let’s Get Blown” by Snoop Dogg kicks off, he’s passed the mic, and we witness the magic of Calvin Harris that has us all addicted to I Created Disco. He suddenly transforms into Charisma-bot, who is ten notches more outgoing than mild-mannered Calvin-bot. Of note, he's also the best singer in the group (I’d like to think I placed second or third).


Bear with me as I talk about myself for a moment. I sing in bands, showers, and on empty streets, but I’m not much of a karaoke aficionado. My folks own a karaoke machine, on which I've only been known to roar the occasional Metallica song to see how long it takes for my dad to clear the room in horror. (I love you, Dad.) That being said I entered this party with skepticism, but the fun and friendly party-goers soon had me gladly joining in on their song selections. Let it also be known that Xtina karaoke'd for the first time in Xtina history! Towards the end I coaxed Calvin into singing Shaggy’s “It Wasn’t Me” as a duet. Yes there is video footage, and no I am not legally allowed to publish it. Sad face.

Though last night's Mercury gig was sold out, littering Craigslist with unanswered wails, I shimmied my way in at the last minute. The show can be summed up quite simply: Calvin killed. He was engaged, the crowd was engaged, we were all dancing furiously together. Baby's Last Small NYC Show.

Hope you all enjoy this photo where I look way into my drunken syllable.

[All photos by Mina K, except the last one by Xtina]